By; Abdullahi Inuwa
— Borno Governor Moves to Shield Key Border Town From Collapse
In a bold and emotional move to save one of Borno’s most vulnerable towns from falling into the hands of terrorists, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Saturday night spent the night in Marte, a border community near Lake Chad, pleading passionately with the Federal Government to take urgent action.
Governor Zulum’s visit came amid rising fears of a resurgence of terrorist activities in the area, which had once served as a notorious stronghold for Boko Haram insurgents. The governor, who arrived unannounced, engaged with security operatives and local leaders deep into the night, coordinating security logistics and assessing the fragile situation firsthand.
“Marte must not fall again,” Zulum declared, visibly distressed by what he saw on the ground. “We cannot afford to lose this strategic town. If Marte falls, the consequences will ripple far beyond Borno — it will embolden terrorists and jeopardize national security.”
Zulum noted that while the military had made commendable progress in flushing out insurgents, the withdrawal of some units and limited federal support had left towns like Marte dangerously exposed. He warned that unless the Federal Government swiftly reinforces security presence, boosts intelligence support, and strengthens civilian-military cooperation, the area could once again be overrun.
The governor’s night in Marte was marked by urgency and humility, as he sat with troops, local vigilantes, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), listening to their fears, hopes, and desperate calls for help. He toured critical infrastructure, including a dilapidated military base, empty police posts, and abandoned schools that once served as shelters during peak insurgency periods.
Residents who spoke with journalists expressed gratitude for the governor’s courage, saying his physical presence gave them a renewed sense of hope. “For the first time in years, we see that our suffering matters,” said Adamu Bulama, a local farmer. “If the governor can sleep here despite the risks, then surely, Abuja must wake up.”
Marte, located close to Nigeria’s borders with Chad and Cameroon, holds strategic importance in the fight against insurgency, serving as a buffer town and gateway to multiple remote communities. Its fall could open the floodgates for increased terrorist infiltration and arms trafficking.
This is not the first time Zulum has braved high-risk zones. Known for his hands-on approach, he has repeatedly visited conflict-ridden communities, sometimes surviving ambushes in his quest to restore peace and resettle displaced citizens. However, the tone of his latest appeal suggests a deeper fear — that the gains made so far in the fight against terrorism could be quickly reversed if Marte is abandoned.
As dawn broke over the dusty town, Governor Zulum stood beside local leaders, urging residents not to give up. “We will continue to fight for you,” he assured them. “But we need the Federal Government to act — now, not later.”
With tension mounting and the fate of Marte hanging in the balance, all eyes are now on Abuja to heed the governor’s call before it’s too late.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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